Airshow crash: plane hits cars on A27

A Hawker Hunter crashed at the Shoreham Air Show. Photo: Eddie Mitchell

Published:15:18Saturday 22 August 2015

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AN AIRCRAFT which crashed during the Shoreham Airshow this afternoon hit several cars on the A27, police have confirmed (Saturday, August 22).

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the Hawker Hunter jet suddenly lose height and come down near the north end of the airfield at around 1.20pm.

A Hawker Hunter crashed at the Shoreham Air Show. Photo: Eddie Mitchell

The A27 is closed in both directions.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “At about 1.20pm the aircraft hit several cars on the A27 just to the north of Shoreham Airport, where an air display is taking place. The aircraft ended up in a bush. There have been several casulties but we have no further infromation on these at the moment.

“The A27 has been closed n both directions and drivers are asked to avoid the area until further notice.

“Further information will be released as soon as possible.”

The pilot is believed to have been performing a loop when the accident happened.

One section of the plane broke off, coming down in flames around 200 yards from the crash site.

Vicky Stephens, 25, of Chichester, was on her way to Brighton when the crash happened.

She said: “I didn’t see the plane, just a sudden cloud of black smoke like a mushroom cloud, so I knew straight away that something had hit. Luckily I stopped for petrol first or I’d have been right underneath it.”